Special Class

Dottie is always thinking of something new she can create. This time she came up with a Pinecone Santa and brought him to her February 21 class. He was just a cute as can be. The girls made quite a deal over him and talked her into teaching them how to make one of their own. Being the nice person that she is, she agreed. So, she gathered together the supplies and set up a workshop for us. Everyone was excited and had lots of fun.

February 21, 2009 Workshop, Winfield Lions Club

Spindle Santa
Dottie Kuhl created the project and taught the class. We all found our way to our new meeting place and had a great time. The Winfield Lions Club was a nice facility. The lighting was good; all the needed facilities were there. Good parking, easy to access and a beautiful view of Kanawha River.

The Spindle Santa looked like a great deal of work, but was quite simple. We took a short cut and used a mold that Dottie had created for his face. I think everyone finished her Santa Spindle Ornament.
We had a great time painting and helped Sandy celebrate her Birthday with a Birthday Cake

Betty Hyre had surfaces available for the Mound Show. If you finished any bring them to the March Meeting and inspire us.
Also Pictured are the directions to the Winfield Lions Clubs Hall,

A Tea Party and a Annual Business Meeting.

It was so nice, lots of varieties of tea served in beautiful TeaCups, nice little sandwiches, bread pudding and a variety of deserts. But, most important was planning of our New Year with others who love to paint and talk about painting. Some of our members came along way for this meeting, 3 came from Kentucky, and 2 new members traveled from Beckley and Rubert, West Virginia.
Our new President, Marlene Grubs presided over the meeting, our new officers were introduced, and are looking forward to a very busy year. Our new schedule is posted on the left hand side of this page. We will have seven workshops and three seminars. We have a great year planned, with many different mediums.
Wow, we will have a lots of fun and lots of interesting things to share and talk about.

2009 Annual Business Meeting "Tea Party"

by "KVDA President" Marlene Grubbs

We made it through another year! Isn’t it wonderful to be alive and well? We are going into this New Year making plans for our KVDA Members.
We will be having a "Tea Party" at the January Business Meeting. The meeting will be held at the Dunbar 1st Church of God on Saturday, January 17 from 9:00 a.m. until all items of business has been covered. Board Members will furnish Tea and Desserts for all members.
Some items we will be addressing are:
1 – National Teachers for 2009.
2. Local members will submit painting projects they are willing to teach during the 2009 year. Dates will be decided for the various projects and members will sign up for the classes they are interested in taking.
3. Suggestions for 2010 National Teachers will be appreciated
4. Suggestions for 2009 Community Service projects
5. Location for 2009 meetings
6. Discuss Web Page
7. "Show and Tell" share your art projects or adventure
8. Mound Show
9 Christmas Party
10. Discuss any other items of business brought up during the meeting.
Everyone come prepared for a caring and sharing experience. Bring your artwork and any new and exciting ideas you may have. We need to put our thinking hats on so we can address all the items of business. It is a good thing we are feeding everyone so you will have enough energy to finish the meeting.

This meeting is one of the best we have all year, because everyone gets to eat, visit and voice their opinions and concerns. We have a wonderful group of ladies and it is so much fun just getting together.

Respectfully your President
Marlene Grubbs

"Tea Time" Painting by Arthur Evans

2008 KVDA Christmas Luncheon

by Shirley Via
Many thanks to Marlene, Helen, Dottie, Hazel and Betty for all they’re hard work in making our Christmas Luncheon a great success (sorry if I left anyone out I'm doing this from memory). Each year I say this is the best luncheon ever and this year was no exception. The painted pieces were gorgeous and there were so many other prizes given out, no one left empty handed. Better than all the gifts was the opportunity to visit with everyone and seeing several people I had not seen for a while. The weeks following the luncheon are so busy with baking, shopping and all the others things we do to prepare for Christmas, its nice to have that one Saturday to spend with friends that have the same love, painting. See you all at the January meeting.

Two Part Seminar, October 10-11, November 7-8, 2008

taught by Traditions Heritage Artist Gabriele Hunter

This was a very intense study of the Historical Dutch Floral technique. During the first session class members created a Grisallie Image of a design created by David Jansen. In the second session she showed how to bring the design back to life, by glazing in the various colors.

Gaby’s classes are always well planned and very informative. She is very generous in sharing her knowledge of the history and technique involved in her projects.

KVDA September Workshop

taught by Marcia Vanover
Marcia bubbles with enthusiasm and clever ideas. This workshop was a wonderful way to paint a surface that will give you years of enjoyable use. The note book surface was painted in the "Rosemary West style". Not only did students learn a new technique, but they also acquired a beautiful binder that will serve to store, organize and display your works in progress. Wow! Isn’t this the original purpose of Decorative Painting, making everyday utilitarian surfaces beauty?

Virginia Nesselrotte June Class

Betty Caithness Keepsake Box
Taught by Virginia Nesselrotte

June 20, 21 Workshop
by Marlene Grubbs
Members of KVDA that signed up and attended the two-day class on June 16 and 17 had a good painting experience. She presented a small box painted in the Betty Caithness style. Some of the people who attended ordered the box from Virginia, while others chose their own surface for the project. No one did the scene smaller, but many attendees increased the size of the pattern to do bigger pieces.
The background treatment that is done with this painting style gives the entire painting a soft appearance. The other unique aspect of this project was the wrap around landscape that encircled the sides of the box. Each side had a different scene, but each flowed into the other, making a continuous panorama. After all the acrylic painting was completed, oil rouging was applied to intensify the colors. Most people finished the top and some of the sides. The attendees who stayed for both days got their project completed. Several people painted the scene on a memory box as well as their project. The painting, the visiting, and the sharing of ideas made for a very pleasant experience. A good time was had by all.

Mina McLean Teaches Water Color

One of the most admirable attributes of our club is the enthusiasm members show exploring new techniques and mediums. Who better to guide us than Mina. She used acrylic paints and a medium that allows you to use them as if they were water color. On Saturday, May 10, we had a great turn out, and as always we were excited to paint together again. The experience was so delightful, that I'm sure some of our members will go home and experiment with this new medium.

Thanks Mina, you are a delightful lady and gifted teacher.

Peggy Harris April Seminar

by Marcia Vanover
Well a few words will not suffice as to what a wonderful time that was had by all. Fantastic, stupendous, are just a few words that could be used to describe Peggy as a teacher, painter, and person, oh and adorable too. Her method of making us believe we could push and pull those brushes and her constant reminding us "gel on first" brought out some wonderful pieces by all.....well almost all! I flunked fireflies! Had to wipe off those little buggers many times before I got one right. Peggy has a very laid back and gentle way of bringing out the best in everyone, until she got to mine......She smiled and told me I had my own little way of painting. Sigh......it was sad to see the wonderful weekend end and to say goodbye to Bob her husband, who handled all the products, such a gentle patient man......and to Peggy for her great teaching and bringing about such a great friendship bonding time for all.

Some of our members decided to use this Seminar as an opportunity to work
on their 2008 Memory Boxes. What a nice way to jumpstart your community service project.

March Grisaille Workshop with Hazel Small

by Shirley Via
Hazel taught her own design in Grisaille. It was an old window with a bird sitting on a broken windowpane. We first painted everything in shades of gray and then Hazel provided the oils to add color. The color is added as a wash and only takes minutes to go from a gray and white painting to a colored one. Hazel is a wonderful and very talented teacher and she is always willing to share her knowledge. I have enjoyed all her classes and am looking forward to taking another class with her.

Painting with Sue Pruette MDA

by Hazel Small
What a great learning experience with painters from as far away as Colorado, Washington D.C., Ohio, Virginia and three KVDA members. There was not an empty seat in Gaby Hunter’s Studio.
We practiced proper execution of strokes, spacing, and various topics as color, color mixing, harmony, value, intensity, composition, focal points, warm and cool colors, reflected light , background color, and how they work to create a painting.
To help us understand the certification judging process, Sue gave us an overview of what the judges are looking for in a passing entry, and how they set the standards for each set of scores. The highlight was when we were in the judge’s seat and in teams of two judged Sue and Gaby's entries using actual scoring sheets.What a fabulous week, learning, making new friends while enjoying old ones, and painting, painting, painting.
Thank you Gaby